Improvement in shovels



P. B. CUNNINGHAM.

Shovel. N0.160,170 Paten tedFeb.23,1875.

THE GRAPHIC CO-PHDTOrLITH.39&4-l PARK PLAG UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER B. CUNNINGHAM, OF FBEEHOLD, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS WEISS, OFBETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOVELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,170, dated February23, 1875 application filed February 6, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER B. CUNNING- HAM, of Freehold, Luzerne county,and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Shovels, ofwhich the following is a specification The object of my invention is tofacilitate the repairing of shovels by adapting a metal tongue, A, onthe handle B of the shovel to a socket, a, formed in the blade D, andsecuring it therein by a bolt or rivet, as shown in the perspectiveview, Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, the withdrawal of this pinpermitting the ready furnishing of the blade with a new handle, or theold handle with a new blade.

The tongue A is forged in one piece with straps d d and a socket, e,which are fitted over the end of the wooden handle B of the shovel, andpermanently secured to the same by rivets or otherwise, as shown in Fig.1 and in the longitudinal section, Fig. 2. .A shoulder, f, is formed onthe tongue, for fitting snugly against the rear edge of the blade, whenthe said tongue is fitted into the socket, and the blade and handle aresecured together by a transverse pin, h, or by a rivet or bolt adaptedto holes b and b in the tongue and blade, as clearly shown in thetransverse section, Fig. 3.

In ordinary shovels and spades the handle is secured to the blade sothat it cannot be disconnected therefrom. In foundries, especially,where the handles frequently become burnt, numbers of shovels havinggood blades are discarded, owing to this difficulty of attaching newhandles.

By my invention this objection is entirely overcome, the connectionbetween the handle and the blade being perfectly rigid while the shovelis in use, and yet permitting the ready disconnection of the blade fromthe handle after simply knocking out the pin h, either handle or bladebeing replaced by a new one without loss of time.

Another advantage of my invention is the economizing of space in packingthe blades and handles separately for transportation in largequantities.

I claim as my invention A shovel in which are combined a metal tongue,A, secured to the handle, with a socket, a, formed for its reception inthe blade, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER B. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

SAM. BRUNNER, JEssE WEAVER.

